U.S. patent application number 11/486407 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-08 for adjustable motion wheel chair.
Invention is credited to Wayne H. Hanson, Gregor Horacek, Dale A. Mandeville, William B. Phelps, Stephen M. Sanford, Edward D. Urband.
Application Number | 20070029857 11/486407 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37102484 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070029857 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hanson; Wayne H. ; et
al. |
February 8, 2007 |
Adjustable motion wheel chair
Abstract
An adjustable motion wheel chair having a mobility base for
supporting a back panel and a seat panel. A pair of control plates
are mounted to the mobility base and positioned laterally across
the mobility base in spaced apart parallel relation. The back panel
includes a pair of pivot pins located on opposite lateral edges of
the back panel which are pivotally received by a respective control
plate. A linkage member hingedly connects the seat panel to the
back panel. Each control plate includes a forwardly extending stop
for limiting the downward movement of a front edge of the seat
panel. A latch member is attached to each control plate and is
operable between a first position where the back panel is fixed in
angular relation with the seat panel and a second position where
the back panel is rotatable with respect to the seat panel.
Inventors: |
Hanson; Wayne H.; (Belgrade,
MT) ; Mandeville; Dale A.; (Belgrade, MT) ;
Phelps; William B.; (Belgrade, MT) ; Sanford; Stephen
M.; (Belgrade, MT) ; Urband; Edward D.;
(Belgrade, MT) ; Horacek; Gregor;
(Ransbach-Baumbach, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Richard C. Conover;Suite 404
104 East Main Street
P.O. Box 1329
Bozeman
MT
59771-1329
US
|
Family ID: |
37102484 |
Appl. No.: |
11/486407 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60699429 |
Jul 14, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/354.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61G 5/107 20130101;
A61G 5/1054 20161101; A61G 5/1067 20130101; A61G 5/10 20130101;
A61G 5/12 20130101; A61G 5/1075 20130101; A61G 5/128 20161101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/354.12 |
International
Class: |
B60N 2/00 20060101
B60N002/00 |
Claims
1. An adjustable motion wheel chair comprising: a back panel; a
seat panel; a mobility base for supporting the back panel and seat
panel; a pair of control plates positioned laterally across the
mobility base in spaced apart parallel relation; each control plate
mounted to the mobility base; the back panel including a pair of
retractable pivot pins mounted on opposite edges of the back panel
and pivotally received by a respective control plate; each control
plate including means for receiving the retractable pivot pin in
multiple positions, each position corresponding to a different
angular relationship between the back panel and the seat panel; a
linkage member hingedly connecting the seat panel to the back
panel; and each control plate including a forwardly extending
limiting means for limiting the downward movement of a front edge
of the seat panel.
2. The adjustable motion wheel chair according to claim 1 wherein
each control plate includes a series of indexed holes for accepting
the retractable pivot pins and wherein the indexed holes are
arranged for selecting an angular relationship between the back
panel and the seat panel.
3. The adjustable motion wheel chair according to claim 1 wherein
each control plate is rotatably secured to the mobility base for
rotation about a lateral axis and further including means for
locking the control plates at a selected rotated position.
4. The adjustable motion wheel chair according to claim 1 further
including latching means attached to each control plate and
operable between a first position where the back panel is fixed in
angular relation with seat panel and a second position where the
back panel is rotatable with respect to the seat panel about the
pivot pin attached to the back panel and the linkage member
connecting the seat panel and back panel.
5. An adjustable motion wheel chair comprising: a back panel; a
seat panel; a mobility base for supporting the back panel and seat
panel; a pair of control plates positioned laterally across the
mobility base in spaced apart parallel relation; each control plate
mounted to the mobility base; the back panel including a pair of
pivot pins located on opposite lateral edges of the back panel and
which are pivotally received by a respective control plate; a
linkage member hingedly connecting the seat panel to the back
panel; each control plate including a forwardly extending limiting
means for limiting the downward movement of a front edge of the
seat panel; latching means attached to each control plate and
operable between a first position where the back panel is fixed in
angular relation with the seat panel and a second position where
the back panel is rotatable with respect to the seat panel about
the pivot pins attached to the back panel and the linkage member
connecting the seat panel and the back panel.
6. The adjustable motion wheel chair according to claim 5 wherein
the latching means includes an outwardly extending latch pin
provided on each lateral side of the back panel and each control
plate includes a slot for slidably receiving a respective latch pin
and further includes a retractable latch rod sized to extend across
the slot to capture the latch pin in the slot in the first position
and retractable to the second position where the latch pin is
freely slidable in the slot.
7. The adjustable motion wheel chair according to claim 5 wherein
each control plate includes means for receiving the pivot pins in
multiple positions, each position corresponding to a different
angular relationship between the back panel and the seat panel.
8. The adjustable motion wheel chair according to claim 7 wherein
the pivot pins are retractable and wherein each control plate
includes a series of indexed holes for accepting the retractable
pivot pins and wherein the indexed holes are arranged for selecting
an angular relationship between the back panel and the seat
panel.
9. The adjustable motion wheel chair according to claim 5 wherein
each control plate is rotatably received to the mobility base for
rotation about a lateral axis and further including means for
locking the control plates at a selected rotated position.
Description
SPECIFICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional
application Ser. No. 60/699,429 filed Jul. 14, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an adjustable motion wheel
chair which can be used in either a static mode with a back panel
and seat panel in a fixed relation and can also be used in a
dynamic mode where a user can stretch out to an extended position
rather than a seated position while using the chair.
[0003] Wheel chairs are well known and wheel chairs allowing a user
to stretch out to an extended position are also known. For example
see U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,332 B1 to Markwald.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates to an adjustable motion
wheelchair which is completely adjustable to accommodate a user's
size and degree of disability; to enable active movement; and to
provide comfort. The wheel chair may be adjusted in a static
position to allow for a selected angle between the back panel and
the seat panel, pivotal at a point near the anatomic hip pivot. The
wheel chair can be further adjusted to allow the seat and back of
the wheel chair to be pivoted to a selected degree of tilt with the
back panel and seat panel remaining in a constant angular position,
around a point close to the center of gravity. Further, the wheel
chair has a latch mechanism which when released allows the wheel
chair to be used in a dynamic mode which allows the user to stretch
out to an extended position and be able to return to the seated
position. This allows a user of the wheel chair to extend and
reinforce symmetrical movement patterns while in the wheel
chair.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0005] In order that the invention may be clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, a preferred embodiment of the
invention will now be described, by way of example only, with
reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention;
operable in a static mode;
[0007] FIG. 1a is a detail A view shown in FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a mobility base view
with the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a back panel, seat
panel and foot rest used with the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a front perspective detail view of control plates
used with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a top perspective detail view of a control plate
used with the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the back panel, seat
panel and foot rest shown in FIG. 3;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a perspective detail view of a positioning
mechanism used with the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the present invention
operable in a dynamic mode; and
[0015] FIG. 8a is a detail B view shown in FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] An adjustable motion wheel chair 10 according to the present
invention is shown in FIG. 1. The wheel chair 10 according to the
present invention is constructed of two main components, namely, a
base frame portion, referred to in the industry as a mobility base,
12 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a removable chair assembly 14 as
shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The mobility base 12 includes a pair of
side frame members 16 supporting a pair of hand driven wheels 18
and also a pair of front idler wheels 20. At the rear of the
mobility base 12 a pair of anti-tip stops 22 (only one is shown)
are used to prevent the mobility base 12 from tipping in the
rearward direction. Cross bracing members 24 are provided to
separate the two side frame members 16.
[0017] A pair of spaced apart and parallel arranged control plates
26 are pivotally mounted with pins 28 to a respective side frame 16
as shown in FIG. 2. Two cross bracing members 30 extend between the
control plates 26 and are secured thereto as shown in FIG. 2. A
pair of tubular sleeves 32 extend between and through the cross
members 30 as shown in FIG. 2. The control plates 26 include a
sector shaped portion having a series of spaced apart index holes
38. The peripheral edge is provided with a series of notches
40.
[0018] A rod 34 is slidably received by each of the tubular sleeves
32 and includes a limiting member 36 located at a distal end
thereof. The rods 34 may be extended to a desired position and
locked in place.
[0019] A pair of catch members 42 are slidably mounted on the side
frame members 16 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Each catch member 42
includes a pair of parallel spaced apart plates 44 which have been
spaced apart a distance to slide into notches 40 as shown in FIG.
5. The pair of catch members 42 are mounted to opposite distal ends
of a pull rod 46. The pull rod 46 is spring biased toward the
notches 40 but can be pulled outwardly causing the catch members 42
to slide away from the notches 40 to disengage the catch members 42
from the notches 40. After disengaging the catch members 42 from
the notches 40 the control plate 26 can be rotated about pins 28.
The rod 46 can then be released to enable the catch release 42 to
engage selected notches 40 of the control plates 26.
[0020] Each control plate 26 is provided with a slot 200 as shown
in FIGS. 2 and 4. A retractable rod 202 extends across the slot 200
as shown in FIG. 4. Each rod 202 is connected with a pull cable 204
to a twist handle 206 mounted on a cross bracing member 207. The
cable 204 is threaded through a protective sheath 208 and a
position guide 210. By twisting the handle 206, the pin 202 is
retracted from the slot 200.
[0021] The chair assembly 14 is shown in FIG. 3. The chair assembly
14 includes a back frame 48 for supporting a back panel 50. The
back panel 50 is secured to back frame 48 with a frictional lock
56. By loosening frictional lock 56 the panel 50 can be moved up or
down on back frame 48. By tightening lock 56 the panel 50 is
secured at a selected position.
[0022] A seat panel 62 of chair assembly 14 is supported by a seat
frame 58 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0023] A push handle 68 is mounted to the frame 48 with hinge
members 70 as shown in FIG. 7. The hinge member 70 allows a user to
tilt the handle 68 with respect to the frame 48 by a selected
amount and then allow the user to lock the handle at the selected
position.
[0024] A pair of linkage members 74 are attached to the back frame
48 in an orthogonal relation as shown in FIG. 3. Similarly, a pair
of seat linkage members 76 are attached in orthogonal relation with
the seat frame members 58 also as shown in FIG. 9. Each of the
linkage members 74 are pivotally joined to a respective seat
linkage member 76 with a pin 78. An outwardly protruding pin 79 is
secured to a respective linkage member 74 on opposite sides of the
chair assembly 14. The pins 79 are sized to be received by the slot
200 provided in the control plate 26 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0025] A pair of extenders 80 are connected between the seat frame
58 and an adjustable elbow hinge 82 as shown in FIG. 3. The elbow
hinge 82 is also connected to tubular leg extension members 84. In
a preferred embodiment the elbow hinge 82 has a conventional
mechanism to allow a user to lock extenders 80 and leg extension
members 84 at a selected angular position.
[0026] A telescoping tube 88 is received by tubular leg extension
member 84. The relative position between tubular leg extension 84
and the telescoping tube 88 is set by pins 90 which extend through
leg extension member 84 and the telescoping tube 88 as shown in
FIG. 3.
[0027] A foot rest 92 is pivotally connected to the telescoping
tubes 88 with a pin 94.
[0028] A tubular member 102 is mounted between the back linkage
members 74 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. A pair of pins 104 are held
within the tube 102 and protrude outwardly under bias of a spring
(not shown) within the tube 102. A cable pull 106 is used to
retract the pins 104 against the bias of the spring when cable 106
is pulled. Once the cable pull 106 is released, the pins 104 are
allowed to extend outwardly from tube 102. The pins 104 are sized
to be slidably received by the holes 38 provided in the control
plates 26 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.
[0029] In using the present invention, the chair assembly 14 is
placed over the mobility base 12 with pins 79 located within the
slots 200 provided in the control plates 26 of the mobility base
12. The twist handle 206 is used to retract the rods 202 from slots
200 to allow the pins 79 to nest in the slots 200. The twist handle
206 is then released whereby the rods 202 lock the pins 79 within
the slots 200 as shown in FIG. 1 and 1a.
[0030] The cable pull 106 is then pulled to retract the pins 104
within the tube 102 and the back panel 50 is rotated about pins 78
and 79 until a selected angular relationship between the back panel
50 and seat panel 62, known as the hip angle, is achieved. Once the
angular position has been selected, the cable pull 106 is released
causing the pins 104, under spring bias, to extend into a
corresponding hole 38 provided in the control plate 26. Once the
pins 104, are positioned in the selected holes 38, the angular
position between the back panels and the seat panels is set for
operation in the static mode.
[0031] Next the rod 46 may be pulled outwardly and the control
plates 26 rotated on pins 28 thereby allowing the back panel and
seat panel combination to be tilted to a selected position. The rod
46 is then released and the catch 42 engages a selected notch 40 at
the desired tilt position.
[0032] The elbow hinges 82 can be adjusted to allow either free
movement of the leg extension member 84 or the elbow hinges 82 can
be locked to maintain a selected angular relation of the leg
extension members 84 to the seat panels.
[0033] When the pins 202 are positioned to hold pins 79 in the
notches 40, the wheel chair is latched in a static mode where the
back panel and seat panel are locked in the set angular relation as
shown in FIGS. 1 and 1a.
[0034] When the wheel chair assembly 10 is to be used in a dynamic
mode the twist handle 206 is twisted to retract pins 202 and to
allow the pins 79 to rise out of the notches 40. When this occurs
the angular relation between the back panel and the seat panels of
the wheel chair assembly 14 can be increased or decreased simply by
the user leaning back on the back panel. The back panel pivots on
the pins 104 positioned in the holes 38 of the control plates 26
and the seat panel pivots about the pins 78 connecting linkage
members 74 and 76. The pins 79 freely rise in the slots 200
allowing a user to stretch out to an extended position. The front
edge of the seat frame members 58 rest on the limiting members 36
provided in the mobility base 12 and the weight of the seat panel
is supported by the engagement with the limiting members 36 and the
pins 78. When the rods 34 holding the limiting members 36 are
extended the pressure required to tilt the seat panel is increased
and when the rods 34 are retracted the pressure required to tilt
the seat panels is decreased. The chair 10 configured for use in
the active mode is shown in FIGS. 8 and 8a.
[0035] The therapeutic wheel chair 10 according to the present
invention provides a versatile wheel chair which can either be used
in a static mode as a conventional wheel chair or can be used in a
dynamic mode to allow a user to extend and reinforce symmetrical
movement patterns using the wheel chair assembly as a support.
[0036] When the chair is not to be used, the cable pull 106 is used
to disengage the pins 104 from the holes 38 of the control plate 26
and the back frame 48 may be rotated forwardly about the pins 78,
connecting the linkage members 74 and 78, to a position where the
back panels rest over the seat panels. In this way the unit may be
collapsed to a space saving configuration.
[0037] It is understood that although the described embodiment
relates to a wheel chair that other chairs could be used equally
well.
[0038] While the fundamental novel features of the invention have
been shown and described, it should be understood that various
substitutions, modifications and variations may be made by those
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of
the invention. Accordingly, all such modifications or variations
are included in the scope of the invention as defined by the
following claims.
* * * * *